White Hall bus accident sends three to hospital.

Published
12:00 am CDT, Monday, September 24, 2007

Three people were sent to the hospital Monday morning after a 16-year-old driver allegedly rear-ended a school bus in Greene County.

White Hall police said they were dispatched to the 400 block of West Bridgeport Street about 7:25 a.m. to investigate the two-vehicle accident, involving a North Greene School District school bus and a 2001 Hyundai passenger car driven by the 16-year-old, who lives in Hillview.

Police said the automobile was westbound on West Bridgeport Street and apparently drifted out of the lane into the parking lane, striking the rear of the 2005 Chevrolet 30-passenger bus, which was parked as it waited to transfer a student onto another school bus.

The school bus was being driven by Jill L. Zupanci, 51, who also lives in Hillview. The car collided with the rear end of the school bus, causing severe damage to the car and moderate damage to the school bus, police said.

The 16-year-old driver had two, 9-year-old passengers in the car, who were both transported by Greene County Ambulance Service to Passavant Area Hospital with minor injuries. The driver sought medical treatment and was transported to the hospital by a relative. The vehicle was towed from the scene.

Ms. Zupanci had one 4-year-old student on her bus at the time of the accident. Miss Zupanci and her passenger did not report any injuries and declined medical treatment, police said.

The sun rising in the east may have been a contributing factor in the accident, police said. The 16-year-old was cited by the White Hall Police Department on a charge of improper lane usage.